Blind Loop Syndrome

Digital gastrointestinal care startup Salvo Health announced it closed a $5 million Seed Prime round led by City Light Capital and Human Ventures led the round. The company's existing investors also participated in the round, including Torch Capital, Threshold Ventures and Felicis Ventures. Angel investors Anmol Madan, founder of Ginger Health and Teladoc's former chief data scientist also contributed. Emily Melton of Threshold, Rachel Parlier of City Light and Salvo founder and CEO Jeffrey Glueck will join Salvo's board of directors. WHAT IT DOES The New York-based company offers a virtual clinic geared toward people with chronic gastrointestinal and metabolic liver issues, including celiac disease, fatty liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and dyspepsia. The company says it offers "wraparound care" in a hybrid approach, which allows patients to continue under their local physician and access Salvo's app-based support. Through Salvo, users are matched with a care team made up of registered dietitians, behavioral health specialists and licensed nurses. In this way, they can receive insurance-covered interdisciplinary care. The company will use the funds to scale its wraparound GI services to providers, including accountable care organizations, gastroenterology private practices and health systems. "I am delighted to lead this investment in Salvo Health and their innovative wraparound care for GI and metabolic chronic conditions," Parlier of City Light Capital said in a statement. "As an early-stage impact investor, we look for companies with the potential to not just transform industries, but also to improve lives. Salvo is enabling GI practices and health systems to fill in the gaps for underserved patient populations, especially for high-touch follow-on care between appointments and post-procedures." MARKET SNAPSHOT Salvo launched in 2022 with $10.5 million in funding to scale its virtual clinic for chronic GI conditions. Other companies in the virtual digestive care space include Vivante Health, which secured $31 million in funding in September, and Oshi Health, which garnered $30 million in Series B funding in April. "Streamlining AI-Enabled Digital Health Technologies From Research to Implementation" is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET, in W304A at HIMSS24 in Orlando. Learn more and register.

U.S.-based Professor Quigley brings decades of experience in gastroenterological clinical practice and research as a key opinion leader at the highest levels. Melbourne, Sydney, San Diego - May 1, 2023 Atmo Biosciences, a company commercializing the world’s first ingestible gas-sensing capsule that provides insights into gut health and microbiome function, today announced the appointment of renowned gastroenterologist Professor Eamonn Quigley as Chair of its Medical Advisory Board (MAB). Prof. Quigley is David M. Underwood Chair of Medicine in Digestive Disorders and Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. He is internationally known for his research on gastrointestinal motility disorders, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its link to the gut microbiome. As Atmo MAB Chair, Prof. Quigley will provide leadership and guidance regarding Atmo’s clinical trials portfolio. “I am thrilled to have someone of Professor Quigley’s standing join our MAB as Chair,” said Atmo Biosciences CEO Malcolm Hebblewhite. “Eamonn is an internationally respected leader in gastroenterology. His ongoing research and thought leadership in the areas of motility and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) will be invaluable as we seek to develop these two key areas of focus in the U.S. and beyond.” Prof. Quigley of the appointment: “I am always excited by the promise of novel technologies that explore the gut microenvironment and the interactions between diet and the microbiome in particular. Atmo’s technology has the potential to serve as a valuable tool in both gastroenterological research and clinical practice. I am looking forward to sharing my insights with the other members of the Board and with Atmo.” Professor Quigley succeeds Professor Peter Gibson. Mr. Hebblewhite commented: “I want to thank Professor Gibson for the considerable contributions he has made to Atmo’s clinical development and the MAB to date. While he is stepping down as Chair, Peter will continue to play an active role with Atmo and the MAB, and I look forward to his ongoing involvement.” About Professor Eamonn M Quigley, MD, FRCP, FACP, MACG, FRCPI Prof. Quigley is David M. Underwood Chair of Medicine in Digestive Disorders, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Director of the Lynda K and David M Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders, and Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Texas A and M University. Prior to joining Houston Methodist in 2013, Prof. Quigley was Dean of the Medical School at University College Cork and a principal investigator at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Center (now Institute). He previously was Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. He has served as president of both the American College of Gastroenterology and the World Gastroenterology Organization and is a past editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He has authored over 1000 publications, mostly in the areas of gut motility, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). About Atmo Biosciences: Atmo Biosciences is an Australian digital health business commercializing the world’s first ingestible, gas-sensing capsule which provides insight into gut health and microbiome function. Atmo’s gas-sensing capsule continuously measures clinically important gaseous biomarkers as it travels through the gut. Atmo aims to improve the diagnosis of common functional gut disorders, leading to more personalized treatments and earlier relief of symptoms for sufferers. The gas-sensing capsule is currently being used in research applications in multiple clinical trials around the world. Media Contacts: Atmo Biosciences Contact: Suraya Saleh and Mal Hebblewhite Telephone: +61 3 8803 4649 Email: suraya.saleh@atmobiosciences.com.au

Digital gastrointestinal care startup Salvo Health launched last week with $10.5 million in seed funding. The round was led by Threshold Ventures with participation from Torch Capital and Felicis Ventures. WHAT THEY DO The startup offers a virtual clinic geared toward people with chronic gut problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dyspepsia and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). For a $127-per-month membership, users are matched with a care team made up of a physician, a health coach and a care navigator. They can help build a plan for nutrition, brain-gut exercises, and sleep and stress management. Doctors can also help patients access diagnostic testing or medications. Salvo executives said the company will use the new funds to invest in its technology, market its services, research member experiences and outcomes, and expand to more states. The startup currently operates in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Connecticut, Kentucky and Virginia. "There is no quick-fix cure-all for chronic conditions like IBS or GERD, but with the right treatment approach from an expert team, and equipping our members with diverse strategies and tools, we can help people restore balance to their lives," CEO and cofounder Jeff Glueck said in a statement. "The conventional medical system often underserves chronic GI conditions, so we assembled top minds to provide comprehensive and accessible care through an easy-to-use, app-based approach.” MARKET SNAPSHOT Salvo isn't alone in the virtual gastrointestinal care space. Another startup that offers patients a virtual care team to manage gut health problems is Oshi Health, which announced a $23 million Series A round in October last year. In March, Oshi launched a partnership with virtual care company Firefly Health to offer its services to their members. Meanwhile, Vivante Health raised $16 million in a Series A round in March. Alongside Oshi, it was added to Solera Health's marketplace of benefits and chronic care management tools later that month. Editor's note: This story was updated with a revised list of states where Salvo Health operates.